Surgical-needle holder.



W.H. BARNARD.

SURGICAL NEEDLE HOLDER. APPLICATION F1110 11111.3.1916.

1,204,640. Patented Nov. 14,1916.

5 I I Q 1 F" A INVENTOR WITNESSES fl gwh BY i I I ATTORNEY WILLIAM HENRY BARN-ARI), or NG'ITILLA, MISSISSIPPI.

SURGICAL-NEEDLE HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. 14', 1916.

Application filed J'anuary 3, 1916. Serial N 0. 70,014.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM HENRY BAR- NARI), a citizen of the United States, residing at Anguilla, in the county of Sharkey and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surgical-Needle Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to needle holders and more particularly to a surgical needle holder.

The primary object of my invention resides in the provision of aneedle holder embodying novel means for holding the jaws thereof in close or locked relation with each other as well as novel means for normally holding the handlesfor operating the jaws in an extended position and for facilitating the operation of the locking means when hand pressure is exerted on the handle, said locking means being manually disengaged to permit of the a *rangemerit of the jaws so that they may be subsequently engaged upon a needle. I

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, eiiicient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims forming a part of i this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention showing the jaws arranged in close relation to each other a portion of one of the handles being shown in section to illustrate the constructing means for mounting the locking element; Fig. 2 represents the top plan View of my invention showing the handles in an extended position; and Fig, 3 represents a side elevational view ofmy invention illustrating to advantage the arrangement of the locking element when in locked engagement with one of the'handles.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I provide a pair of handles 1 terminate in complemental jaws 3. the

I incidentally and 2 both of which handles being pivotally connected adjacent the point of juncture of the jaws through the medium of a suitable fastening element 4. The handle 1 is reduced intermediate its ends to provide a shoulder 5 and further provided with a longitudinal slot 6 which 1 passes through the shoulder while the handle 2 is provided on its inner surface at a point opposite the slot with a longitudinally curved bottomed groove 7, both the shoulder, slot and groove being for a purpose hereinafter described. For the purpose of removably holding the handles and jaws in close relation with each other I have provided my improved locking element which in the present instance includes a shank Shaving a substantially hooked end 9 projecting therefrom,the inner surface of the'hooked end slanting toward the shank as illustrated by numeral 10 said element being pivotally mounted between the walls of the groove and intermediate the ends thereof, adjacent its point of juncture of the hook with the shank through the medium of a pin 11. 'A knob '12- is formed integral with the free end of the element and when in engagement with the shoulder 5 servesto' hold the jaws in close relation with each other.

For the purpose of holding the jaws and the handles in an extended position and for automatically placing the jaws in close relation-with each other-when hand pressure is exertedon the handle I have provided my improved resilient means in the present instance including an arcuate leaf spring 12 oneend of which is rigidly connected to the inner surface of the. handle 1 through the medium of suitable fastening means 13, the opposite end of which bears against the slanting faces 10 of the hook. As is readily apparent when the device is in a position as illustrated in Fig. 2 the jaws will be maintained in an extended position and when a slight hand pressure is exerted the spring will be slid on theslanting faces 10 and simultaneously the tension thereof will force the hook'toward the bottom of the recess whereupon the knob will ride on the handle 1 and engage the shoulder 5 consequently locking the handles in close relation with each other.

To allow the jaws to be placed in an open position it is only necessary to remove the them in an extended position and will permit of a needle being subsequently held between the jaws.

Although I have described and shown the embodiment of my invention I desire it not to be understood that I am to be limited to the exact details shown, however, I desire that great stress be laid upon the arrangement of the means for holding the jaws in close or locked position as well as the means cooperating therewith for holding the jaws in extended position and for automatically placing the jaws in locked position when hand pressure is exerted on the handles.

It will be understood that I have shown my invention associated with a needle holder, however, it will be appreciated that the locking element and the resilient means as well as the peculiar means for associating these parts can be' as well applied to analogous implements;

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can easily be seen that I have provided a device that is simple in construction, containing but a few simple parts that can be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope'of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: A

1. A surgical needle holder including a pair of pivotally connected handles, complementary jaws formed on the ends thereof, means for removably locking the jaws Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the in close relation with each other, and resilient means for holding the jaws in an extended position and for cooperating with the locking means for placing the jaws in locked relation with each other when a slight hand pressure is exerted on the handles.

2. A surgical needle holder including a pair of pivoted handles, complementary jaws formed on the ends thereof, a locking element pivotally connected to one handle and slidably and adjustably associated with the other handle for holding the handles and jaws in close relation with each other, and resilient means associated with one handle and the locking element for holding the jaws in an extended position and for placing the jaws in close relation with each other when pressure is exerted on the handles.

3. A surgical needle holder including a pair of pivotally connected handles, complementary jaws formed on the ends thereof, a shoulder provided on one handle, said shoulder provided with a longitudinal slot, the other handle being provided on its inner surface with a groove, a hook shaped looking element pivotally mounted in the groove and slidably associated with the slot in the other handle and adapted for movable engagement with the shoulder to removably hold the handles in close relation with each other, and an arcuate spring rigidly connected to one handle and having the free end bearing against the hook shaped locking element for normally holding the jaws and handles in an extended position and for causing the locking element to engage the shoulder when pressure is exerted on the handle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY BARNARD.

Witnesses J. C. WILLIAMS, ABE VKLINE.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D G. 

